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    For American Soccer Fans, a Late Night Was a Tense One

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    Fans of the Women’s World Cup in the United States on Tuesday had a critical decision to make based on a distinctive 3 a.m. kickoff: Stay up late or wake up early?At Banter Bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, patrons groggily stumbled through their next important decision — caffeine or alcohol, or both? They stifled yawns as they powered through the wee hours or stirred themselves from unsatisfying naps, in hopes of watching the U.S. women’s national soccer team rally in its showdown with Portugal for a spot in the single-elimination portion of the World Cup.Cups of coffee and pints of beer were the most popular drinks, but there were also plenty of Bloody Marys, gin and tonics, Red Bull vodkas and even tequila shots — a choose-your-own-adventure style Monday night or Tuesday morning, depending on your perspective.“We were going to open for this no matter what,” the bar owner Chris Keller said. “We’ve been packed for every U.S.A. game.”Under a new ordinance, Franklin Hall in Washington, D.C., was able to host a watch party and serve alcohol on tap until 4 a.m.Pete Kiehart for The New York TimesBanter Bar in the wee hours of Tuesday.Jackie Molloy for The New York TimesAnd packed it was, despite the hour. Across the United States, bars opened early or stayed open late to host soccer fans looking for a shared experience or even just a cable connection. In New York and Washington, D.C., as well as Columbus, Ohio, and Portland, Ore., and points in between, fans disrupted their regular sleeping routines to cheer on a national team that very nearly let them down before sunrise on the East Coast.In Columbus, the Pub at Lower.com Field, where the Columbus Crew of M.L.S. play, had a near-capacity crowd for the scoreless draw. Franklin Hall in Washington took advantage of a new local ordinance that allowed it to host a watch party with alcohol on tap until 4 a.m., followed by coffee on tap for most of the second half. The Sports Bra, a bar in Portland focused on women’s sports, showed the game on Fox in English and on Telemundo in Spanish because the Fox feed kept cutting out.At Banter Bar, most groups were split in terms of those who stayed up and those who crashed for a few hours before the game.“You can’t trust an alarm,” said Elena Studier, who was tucked into a booth with her partner, Marti Martinson. Studier had napped, Martinson had not. “You have to have somebody on the other side,” Studier said.The U.S. fan Han Cronig let out a yawn during the match at Franklin Hall.Pete Kiehart for The New York TimesThe TV broadcast of the game highlighted other watch parties, including one in Long Beach, Calif.Jackie Molloy for The New York TimesStudier and Martinson moved to New York City from North Carolina just two days before the decisive game. They said they were soccer fans and followed the North Carolina Courage in the N.W.S.L.“A week ago, we tried to watch the game, and there’s not much enthusiasm for women’s soccer at a Buffalo Wild Wings,” Martinson said.Studier, 27, added, “We were very excited to come watch with people who actually wanted to get up at 3 in the morning and watch women’s soccer.”Ruby Cirby was impressed with the turnout at Banter Bar. An avid soccer fan and longtime Banter patron, she said that during the Women’s World Cup in 2019, there were only about 10 people who showed up for a 7 a.m. game.“It’s a different vibe if you’re watching it at home,” Cirby said. “I feel like this is a perk of living in the city, is having bars that are open for these kinds of games.”There were only a few to choose from. Mathew Lee and Hector Conde drove to Banter Bar from Staten Island to watch the game. It happened to be Lee’s birthday — he turned 24 right after midnight. For most of the game, however, as the United States struggled to keep a scoreless draw with Portugal to advance to the round of 16, it was unclear whether Lee and Conde would be celebrating.“If they score one, we’re out,” Conde said. “That’s what makes it so nerve-racking.”Fans at Banter Bar expressed the emotions of American soccer fans everywhere.Jackie Molloy for The New York TimesThe question at Franklin Hall was: Beer or breakfast? The answer: Both.Pete Kiehart for The New York TimesThat tension was palpable for much of the game. A small TV in one corner of the bar was showing the Netherlands’ matchup with Vietnam, in which the Dutch racked up seven goals over an opponent the United States had outscored by three. By halftime, it was clear who would win the group — and it wasn’t the Americans.“I’ve been to the last two parades, and I’m hoping for a third one,” said Philip Crandall, who lives around the corner from Banter Bar. “But if they don’t sort something out, a third one doesn’t look to be in the cards.”In the second half, Banter patrons were itching for substitutions. Priscilla Osorio, who is also a follower of the N.W.S.L. club Gotham F.C., said she wanted to see “a Megan Rapinoe moment.” Osorio got her wish in the 60th minute — the bar erupted when Rapinoe checked in for Sophia Smith.“Did Vlatko wake up?” Osorio said loudly, referring to the U.S. coach.Vlatko Andonovski ultimately used all five substitutions, but nothing was enough to lift the United States past Portugal.At Banter Bar, Patrick O’Shea left no doubt about his rooting interest.Jackie Molloy for The New York TimesAbby Lore wore a U.S.-themed bow at Franklin Hall.Pete Kiehart for The New York TimesThe United States will now most likely face Sweden in the round of 16 on Sunday at 5 a.m. Eastern time — a concession for American fans who had hoped to see their team begin seven hours earlier, in a slot at 10 p.m. Eastern that looked like it had been designed with a U.S. audience in mind.Either way, Steve Gaddis was embracing the time difference with New Zealand and Australia, noting that it’s not every year that an overnight game is even possible. Gaddis attended the 2019 World Cup in France, and his sister was at Tuesday’s game in New Zealand.“How many chances do you have to get up and go to a bar?” Gaddis said. “If the next time is in 20 years, we’re going to be 50, and we’re not going to do that.”Gaddis’s friend Jessie Hunter, an architect, had her eye on her start time for work — 9 a.m. The group was planning to hit a diner after the final whistle and decompress before the workday began, the stress of the draw behind them with a new matchup and kickoff time to consider.Franklin Hall before its World Cup watch party.Pete Kiehart for The New York Times More

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      Where Do Miami Heat Fans Watch the N.B.A. Finals? For Many, Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill.

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      In South Florida, Flanigan’s, a fishing-themed restaurant chain, is the hot spot to watch the Miami Heat play the Denver Nuggets.People are used to waiting in lines behind velvet ropes to squeeze into the hottest bars and clubs in Miami. But when the Miami Heat are playing for an N.B.A. title, the trendiest place to be is a fishing-themed bar and grill.Nearly two hours before Game 1 of the finals began on Thursday night, most of the wood-paneled booths and bar stools at the Flanigan’s in Kendall were filled with Heat fans, many of them wearing the No. 22 jersey of the team’s star forward Jimmy Butler. (The restaurant is one of more than 20 Flanigan’s in South Florida.)Dozens of other unlucky fans lined up outside the entrance, even after the hostesses told them they’d be waiting about three hours to get in, longer than the game itself. A father and son ate takeout in the back of their pickup truck as they watched the game on one of the restaurant’s outdoor TV screens visible from the parking lot.“The energy and enthusiasm is electric,” said Kelly Connor, 59. Her husband had arrived hours earlier to grab a table for her and their teenage daughter. “It’s the next best thing to being at the game.”Erick Morales, 31, enjoying a bit of Stella Artois beer at the Flanigan’s location in Kendall, Fla.Martina Tuaty for The New York TimesSome of the most popular items include the mountain of loaded nachos and the buttery garlic rolls.Martina Tuaty for The New York TimesEvery seat in the restaurant, too, had a view of a flat-screen television, some mounted between life-size Atlantic blue marlins. All were broadcasting the game.But the generous all-day specials are also a draw for this restaurant, which Joe (Big Daddy) Flanigan started in 1959 as Big Daddy’s, a chain of liquor stores and lounges. Though he died in 2005, his face still adorns the green plastic cups and the restaurant signage.In the 1980s, while facing bankruptcy, the company added restaurants to the business, said Abel Sanchez, a local historian. The pivot happened as interest in Miami sports increased.“They’ve been gold ever since,” Mr. Sanchez said.On Monday, when the Heat won the Eastern Conference finals, the chain sold more than 50,000 wings.That’s Erick Morales’s go-to item when he comes here. He recently moved to Atlanta, but since returning to Miami for vacation three weeks ago, he has been at least eight times to the restaurant, where he and his friends can consume about 50 wings. He also chose the restaurant for his high school graduation dinner in 2010.“This is the hidden gem of Miami,” Mr. Morales, 31, yelled as the crowd cheered when the Heat scored. But the fans’ enthusiasm didn’t keep the Heat from losing to the Denver Nuggets 104-93. As soon as the game was done, the TV channels were changed and the soundtrack switched to salsa music.Heat fans know to show up at the restaurant about two hours before tipoff. Those who didn’t get a table on Thursday night before the game had to wait about three hours.Martina Tuaty for The New York TimesFollow New York Times Cooking on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Pinterest. Get regular updates from New York Times Cooking, with recipe suggestions, cooking tips and shopping advice. More

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      Memphis Grizzlies Guard Ja Morant Suspended 8 Games for Gun Video

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      The N.B.A. said it was “irresponsible, reckless and potentially very dangerous” for Morant to livestream video of himself holding a gun in a nightclub near Denver.The N.B.A. suspended Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant for eight games without pay for conduct detrimental to the league after he appeared in an Instagram live video early on the morning of March 4 “holding a firearm in an intoxicated state” while visiting a nightclub near Denver, according to a league statement.Morant, 23, has not played since March 3, when the Grizzlies lost to the Denver Nuggets, and the five games he has missed will count toward the suspension. He will be eligible to play again in the Grizzlies’ game on Monday against the Dallas Mavericks.“Ja’s conduct was irresponsible, reckless and potentially very dangerous,” N.B.A. Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “It also has serious consequences given his enormous following and influence, particularly among young fans who look up to him. He has expressed sincere contrition and remorse for his behavior.”Silver and Morant met at the N.B.A.’s office in New York on Wednesday. According to the league’s statement, the league’s head of basketball operations, Joe Dumars, who oversees player punishment, and Tamika Tremaglio, the executive director of the N.B.A. players’ union, also attended the meeting.The league said that it had investigated the video and “did not conclude” that Morant owned the gun or that he brought it to the club. The N.B.A. also said in its statement that it did not determine that Morant had traveled with the gun or taken it to an N.B.A. facility. The league’s collective bargaining agreement prohibits players from having firearms and deadly weapons at N.B.A. facilities or when traveling on league business. Players who violate that policy can be suspended indefinitely by the commissioner and fined up to $50,000.Morant had been away from the Grizzlies since March 4, though the Grizzlies did not say whether he had been suspended. By that afternoon, his Twitter and Instagram accounts had been deactivated.That same day, the agency that represents Morant, Tandem, released a statement from Morant in which he said he took “full responsibility for my actions last night.”“I’m sorry to my family, teammates, coaches, fans, partners, the city of Memphis and the entire Grizzlies organization for letting you down,” Morant said. “I’m going to take some time away to get help and work on learning better methods of dealing with stress and my overall well-being.”The incident at the nightclub happened three days after The Washington Post reported that Morant had been involved in two incidents last summer in which police were called. In one, Morant was accused of threatening a mall security guard. In the other, he was accused of punching a teenage boy during a pickup game at his home. Morant said he was acting in self-defense.Morant is one of the league’s brightest stars, known for his acrobatic dunks and brash trash talk. He has led the Grizzlies to playoff berths in the past two seasons after a three-year drought for the franchise. He won the league’s Rookie of the Year Award in 2020 and is a two-time All-Star.This season, Morant has averaged 27.1 points, 8.2 assists and 6.0 rebounds per game, leading the Grizzlies to the second-best record in the Western Conference. In his absence, Memphis has held on to the No. 2 seed in the West, having gone 3-2 without Morant. More

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      Cameroon Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 16

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      The blaze was caused by explosions from fireworks used in the venue, the government said in a statement reported by news agencies.A fire at a nightclub in Cameroon’s capital, Yaoundé, in the early hours of Sunday left at least 16 people dead and eight others seriously injured, according to news agencies.Fireworks used inside the venue, Livs Night Club, consumed the building’s ceiling and led to two explosions that caused a stampede, the government said in a statement that called the deaths a “tragedy,” according to the news outlet Agence France-Presse.Video taken outside the nightclub, which is in the capital’s upscale Bastos district and is close to many foreign embassies, showed some charred objects but no obvious signs of damage to the building’s facade on Sunday. The fire happened very quickly and took place just after 2 a.m., a security guard who witnessed the scene said, according to Agence France-Presse.The blaze occurred as Cameroon, which is on the western coast of central Africa, hosts this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, a tournament of soccer teams representing 24 countries from across the continent. More